Capital/Financing Update • Jul 17, 2013
Capital/Financing Update
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17 July 2013, Luhansk, Ukraine
Current report 17/07/2013
As a result of the developments and factors set out in the Issuer's current report dated 16 July 2013, Agroton Public Limited (the "Issuer") announces today that it has commenced а consent solicitation in respect of its U.S.\$50,000,000 12.50 per cent. Notes due 2014 (the "Notes"). The final voting deadline for submission of electronic voting instructions for the extraordinary resolution of the Noteholders (the "Extraordinary Resolution") in relation to the consent solicitation is 3.00 p.m. (London time) on 6 August 2013.
The Issuer is seeking the consent of Noteholders to amend the terms and conditions of the Notes to: (1) extend the maturity of the Notes by 60 months to 14 January 2019 in order to lengthen the average maturity of the Issuer's funding sources; (2) postpone the interest payment that was due for payment to Noteholders on 14 July 2013 to 14 January 2014; (3) decrease the interest rate with effect from 14 January 2013 from 12.50 per cent. to 8.00 per cent; (4) amend the definition of Leverage Ratio Exception so that the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio would be 4.0 rather than 3.0; and (5) amend the definition of Permitted Indebtedness so that Additional Indebtedness is not to exceed U.S.\$20 million (rather than U.S.\$5 million) at any time outstanding. The Issuer is also requesting that Noteholders sanction and approve the waiver of the Potential Event of Default or Event of Default under the terms and conditions of the Notes arising as a result of the proposed postponement of the 14 July interest payment to January 2014.
The waiver and the proposed amendments to the terms and conditions of the Notes are described in more detail in the consent solicitation memorandum dated 17 July 2013 (the "Consent Solicitation Memorandum"). The terms and conditions of the consent solicitation are set out in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum and, unless the context requires otherwise, terms defined in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings in this announcement.
To be passed in relation to the Notes, the Extraordinary Resolution must be passed at a quorate meeting of Noteholders duly convened and held in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3 to the Trust Deed by the affirmative vote of holders of Notes present in person or represented by proxy or representative owning in the aggregate not less than three quarters in principal amount of the Notes owned by the Noteholders who are so present or represented at the meeting. If passed, the Extraordinary Resolution will be binding upon аll of the Noteholders. The Meeting will be held at 3.00 p.m. (London time) on 8 August 2013 at the offices of Baker & McKenzie LLP, 100 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6JA. Voting can take place by electronic voting instruction via the Clearing Systems or by attending the Meeting and producing а valid Form of Proxy.
The Issuer has retained Lucid Issuer Services Limited to act as Tabulation Agent. Requests for copies of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum or information in relation to the procedures for voting on the Extraordinary Resolution should be directed to the Tabulation Agent.
For further information, please contact:
Lucid Issuer Services Limited Leroy House, 436 Essex Road London, N1 3QP United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7704 0880 Fax: +44 (0)20 7067 9098
Attention: Thomas Choquet/Victor Parzyjagla Email: [email protected]
The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch One Canada Square London, E14 5AL United Kingdom Fax: +44 (0)20 7964 2536
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Email: [email protected]
The Issuer at: Agroton Public Limited 1 Lampousas Street CY-1095 Nicosia Cyprus Attention: Larisa Orlova, CFO Email: [email protected]
The form of notice of meeting to Noteholders is set out below:
US\$50,000,000 12.50 per cent. Notes due 2014 (the "Notes")
issued by
Agroton Public Limited (the "Issuer")
(a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Cyprus with registered number 255059 and having its registered office at 1 Lampousas Street, CY-1095, Nicosia,
Cyprus)
such Notes as supported by suretyships and indemnities as described in the trust deed (the "Trust Deed") dated 12 July 2011 between, among others, the Issuer and BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Limited (the "Trustee")
(ISIN: XS0627994477 and Common Code: 06279947)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Trust Deed constituting the Notes, a meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders of the Notes (the " Noteholders") has been convened by the Issuer and will be held at the offices of Baker & McKenzie LLP, 100 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6JA on 8 August 2013 at 3.00 p.m. London time for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolution which will be proposed as an Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the Trust Deed) in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Deed.
Capitalised terms used in this Notice and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the consent solicitation memorandum dated 17 July 2013 (the "Memorandum").
"THAT THIS MEETING of the holders of the outstanding US\$50,000,000 12.50 per cent. Notes due 2014 (the "Notes") of Agroton Public Limited (the "Issuer") constituted by a trust deed (the "Trust Deed") dated 14 July 2011 and made between, among others, the Issuer and BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Limited (the "Trustee") as trustee for the Noteholders HEREBY:
"(i) The Issuer and each Surety will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness except that if no Potential Event of Default nor Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time, or would occur as a consequence, of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and on the date of such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would be 4.0 to 1.0 or lower (the "Leverage Ratio Exception"), then the Issuer and/or the Sureties may Incur such Indebtedness".
(ii) the deletion of Condition 3.2(a)(ii)(K) in Schedule 4 (Terms and Conditions of the Notes) and its replacement with the following:
"Additional Indebtedness not to exceed US\$20 million at any time outstanding".
(iii) the deletion of Condition 4(a) in Schedule 4 (Terms and Conditions of the Notes) and its replacement with the following:
"4(a) The rate of interest ("Rate of Interest") applicable to the principal amount outstanding for the time being in respect of the Notes shall be: (a) 12.50 per cent. per annum from and including 14 July 2011 to but excluding 14 January 2013; and (b) 8.00 per cent. per annum from and including 14 January 2013 to but excluding 14 January 2019.
(iv) the deletion of Condition 4(b) (Interest) in Schedule 4 (Terms and Conditions of the Notes) and its replacement with the following:
"The amount of interest payable on an Interest Payment Date shall be calculated by applying the Rate of Interest to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, dividing the product by two and rounding the resulting figure to the nearest cent (half a cent being rounded upwards), except that on 14 January 2014 the amount of interest payable shall be calculated by applying the Rate of Interest to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, and rounding the resulting figure to the nearest cent (half a cent being rounded upwards)."
(v) the deletion of the definition of Interest Payment Date in Condition 4 (Interest) in Schedule 4 (Terms and Conditions of the Notes) and its replacement with the following:
"Interest Payment Date" means 14 January and 14 July of each year, commencing on 14 January 2012, except that 14 July 2013 shall not be an Interest Payment Date."
(vi) the deletion of Condition 5.1 (Final Redemption) in Schedule 4 (Terms and Conditions of the Notes) and its replacement with the following:
Unless previously redeemed, or purchased and cancelled, the Notes will be redeemed at their principal amount on 14 January 2019 (the "Maturity Date")."
Capitalised terms used in this Extraordinary Resolution have the same meanings as those defined in the Memorandum published by the Issuer on 17 July 2013, unless the context otherwise requires."
The terms of the Extraordinary Resolution have not been formulated or negotiated by the Trustee and nothing in this Notice should be construed as a recommendation to Noteholders from the Trustee to vote in favour of, or against, the Extraordinary Resolution. The Trustee has not been involved in the formulation of the Extraordinary Resolution and makes no representation that all relevant information has been disclosed to Noteholders in the Memorandum and this Notice. In accordance with normal practice, the Trustee expresses no opinion on the merits of the Extraordinary Resolution. Noteholders should take their own independent legal and financial advice on the merits and on the consequences of voting in favour of the applicable Extraordinary Resolution, including any tax consequences.
However, on the basis of the information contained in the Memorandum (which the Trustee recommends to Noteholders to read carefully) and this Notice, the Trustee has authorised the Issuer to state that the Trustee has no objection to the Extraordinary Resolution being put to Noteholders for their consideration.
The Memorandum, a copy of which is available as indicated below, explains the background to and reasons for, gives full details of, and invites the Noteholders to approve (at the Meeting), the amendments and modifications referred to in paragraph (B) of the Extraordinary Resolution.
The attention of Noteholders is particularly drawn to the quorum required for the Meeting and for any adjourned meeting thereof which is set out in paragraph 2 of "Voting and Quorum" below. Having regard to such requirements, Noteholders are strongly urged either to take steps to be represented at the Meeting or to attend the Meeting, as referred to below, as soon as possible.
Noteholders who wish to vote must do so in accordance with the procedures of the relevant Clearing System. Noteholders should note that they must allow sufficient time for compliance with the standard operating procedures of the clearing and settlement systems operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. ("Euroclear") and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg ("Clearstream, Luxembourg"), the "Clearing Systems" and each a "Clearing System") in order to ensure delivery of their Voting Instructions to Lucid Issuer Services Limited (the "Tabulation Agent", an agent appointed by and on behalf of the Issuer in connection with the Solicitation) in advance of 3.00 p.m. (London time) on the Expiration Date (the "Expiration Time").
Noteholders may inspect copies of the documents set out below at the registered office of the Issuer and the specified office of The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch (the "Principal Paying Agent") set out below at any time during normal business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and bank and other public holidays excepted) prior to the Meeting, and copies of such documents shall be available at the Meeting.
Document available for inspection: Trust Deed.
Documents available for inspection and collection:
The relevant provisions governing the convening and holding of meetings of Noteholders are set out in Schedule 3 of the Trust Deed a copy of which is available for inspection as referred to above.
The Notes are currently held in the form of a Global Certificate. The Global Certificate is registered in the name of The Bank of New York Depository (Nominees) Limited as nominee for the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg (the "Registered Holder"). Each person (a "Beneficial Owner") who is the owner of a particular principal amount of the Notes, as shown in the records of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or their respective accountholders ("Accountholders") should note that such person will not be a Noteholder for the purposes of this Notice and will only be entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting or appoint a proxy to do so in accordance with the procedures set out below. On this basis, the only Noteholder is the Registered Holder. Accordingly, Beneficial Owners should convey their Voting Instructions, directly or through the Accountholder with whom they hold their interest in the Notes, to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective procedures or arrange by the same means to be appointed a proxy.
Only the Registered Holder is entitled to complete a Form of Proxy (defined below). A Form of Proxy is not required to be completed by Beneficial Owners or Accountholders through Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, those holders must vote or instruct electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Clearing Systems. The Form of Proxy will be made available to the Registered Holder.
The Registered Holder may by instrument in writing in the English language (a "Form of Proxy") in the form available from the Tabulation Agent specified below signed by the Registered Holder and delivered to the specified office of the Tabulation Agent not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the Meeting, appoint any person (a "proxy") to act on his or its behalf in connection with the Meeting (or any adjourned such meeting).
A proxy so appointed, so long as such appointment remains in force, shall be deemed, for all purposes in connection with the Meeting, to be the holder of the Notes to which such appointment relates and the Registered Holder shall be deemed for such purposes not to be the holder.
The Beneficial Owner in respect of the Notes can request through his Accountholder for the Registered Holder to appoint the Tabulation Agent or any one of its nominees as proxy to cast the votes relating to the Notes in which he has an interest at the Meeting.
Alternatively, Beneficial Owners and Accountholders in respect of the Notes who wish a different person to be appointed as their proxy to attend and vote at the Meeting (or any adjourned such meeting) should contact the relevant Clearing System to make arrangements for such person to be appointed as a proxy (by the Registered Holder) in respect of the Notes in which they have an interest for the purposes of attending and voting at the Meeting.
In either case, Beneficial Owners and Accountholders must have made arrangements to vote with the relevant Clearing System by no later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the Meeting and within the relevant time limit specified by the relevant Clearing System and request or make arrangements for the relevant Clearing System to block the Notes in the relevant Accountholder's account and to hold the same to the order or under the control of the Tabulation Agent.
An Accountholder whose Notes have been blocked will thus be able to procure that an electronic voting instruction (a "Voting Instruction") is given in accordance with the procedures of the relevant Clearing System to the Tabulation Agent. Voting Instructions must comply with and be transmitted in accordance with the usual procedure of the relevant Clearing System, so as to be received by a Clearing System sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Time, or by such earlier deadline as may be imposed by the relevant Clearing System. Beneficial Owners and Accountholders should take steps to inform themselves of and to comply with the particular practice and policy of the relevant Clearing System. Voting Instructions should clearly specify whether the Noteholder wishes to vote in favour of or against the Extraordinary Resolution.
Any Note(s) so held and blocked for either of these purposes will be released to the Accountholder by the relevant Clearing System on the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the Meeting (or, if later, any adjourned such Meeting) and (ii) the date on which the relevant Voting Instruction is validly revoked by the Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Solicitation.
Any holder of Notes as to which a Voting Instruction has been given may revoke such Voting Instruction as to such Notes by delivering a written notice of revocation or a changed Voting Instruction bearing a date later than the date of the prior Voting Instruction to the relevant Clearing System(s) no later than 48 hours prior to the time appointed for holding the Meeting, or by such earlier deadline as may be imposed by the relevant Clearing System. To be effective, a notice of revocation must be in a format customarily used by the Clearing Systems. Any Voting Instructions given or Forms of Proxy submitted may not be revoked during the period starting 48 hours before the time fixed for the Meeting and ending at the conclusion of such Meeting.
Beneficial Owners are advised to check with the broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company, other trustee, or nominee or other intermediary through which they hold their Notes whether such intermediary applies different deadlines for any of the events specified.
On any adjourned Meeting, the quorum required shall be two or more persons present in person holding Notes or being proxies or representatives and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than one quarter in principal amount of the Notes for the time being outstanding.
At least 10 days' notice of the Meeting adjourned through want of quorum shall be given, and such notice shall be given in the same manner as of the original Meeting and shall state the required quorum.
THE TRUSTEE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FORMULATION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATION THAT ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION HAS BEEN DISCLOSED TO NOTEHOLDERS IN THE MEMORANDUM AND THIS NOTICE OF MEETING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PRACTICE, THE TRUSTEE EXPRESSES NO OPINION ON THE MERITS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION OR ON WHETHER NOTEHOLDERS WOULD BE ACTING IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS IN APPROVING THE EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION, AND NOTHING IN THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS A RECOMMENDATION TO NOTEHOLDERS FROM THE TRUSTEE TO VOTE IN FAVOUR OF, OR AGAINST, THE EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION. ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION SET OUT IN THE MEMORANDUM (WHICH THE TRUSTEE RECOMMENDS TO NOTEHOLDERS TO READ CAREFULLY) AND THIS NOTICE, THE TRUSTEE HAS AUTHORISED IT TO BE STATED THAT THE TRUSTEE HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION BEING PUT TO NOTEHOLDERS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
Lucid Issuer Services Limited Leroy House, 436 Essex Road London, N1 3QP United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7704 0880 Fax: +44 (0)20 7067 9098
Attention: Thomas Choquet/Victor Parzyjagla Email: [email protected]
The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch One Canada Square London, E14 5AL United Kingdom Fax: +44 (0)20 7964 2536
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Email: [email protected]
This Notice is given by:
Agroton Public Limited
1 Lampousas Street CY-1095 Nicosia Cyprus
17 July 2013
This announcement is not a solicitation of consents, nor shall it be deemed a solicitation of consents with respect to any securities. The consent solicitation will be made solely by way of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum.
Neither this announcement nor the Consent Solicitation Memorandum shall constitute an invitation to participate in the consent solicitation in or from any jurisdiction in or from which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Consent Solicitation Memorandum comes are required by each of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Tabulation Agent and the Principal Paying Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.
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